Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Cream and Sugar with your Jesus?

I have this conversation about 15 to 20 times every Saturday morning. No I do not work at Starbucks or a local coffee shop. I am standing in the parking lot of our local food bank at 7:00am. The Manna House, as it is known in our town, is not open on Saturday. However, for several years people have shown up every Saturday morning at 8:00am to give food out to those in need. So why am I there at 7:00? For a while Me, my friend Tim and another friend Judy showed up every Saturday at 8:00 with everyone else. We walked around with can goods, Ramen Noodles or a bag of clothes we no longer wear, handing them out to those in need. After several weeks Tim, Judy and I were talking and asked each other if anyone was providing these people with spiritual food. Many were there handing out physical food but no one was attempting to hand out spiritual food. What a tragedy it would be if all we did was hand these people food for their stomach and did not give them food for their souls. Would we be guilty of allowing people to slip into eternity with a full stomach and an empty soul? We decided to get to the parking lot at 7:00 with coffee and hot chocolate and preach the Word to anyone who showed up. I am not sure if it is a success or not. We have not heard anyone make a profession of faith, we have not had anyone tell us we are making a difference in their lives. Just a couple of weeks ago I told them I was going to speak out of the book of Habakkuk. One lady looked at me and said "Is that in the Bible, I've never heard of it!" We have our work cut out for us!

I am reminded of the two groups of people who came in contact with others in need.

Matthew 25: 35 - 40 -35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25: 41-45 - 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Both groups saw the same group of people "the least of these". Both groups ask the same question, "When did we see you?" One group recognized the need and did something about it, the other did not. My question to you and to me is do you see who God has put before you? He has put people in our path, are we seeing them? Are we doing for them or not? Our actions or lack there of will have eternal consequences.